One topic that is sure to come up on HSE Science is genetics and heredity. Mendel’s Monster Factory is an engaging lesson to use with participants to help them better understand how traits are passed from ‘parent’ to ‘offspring’. Participants work in pairs of two as they flip coins to determine which allele they are passing on to their offspring. When they have completed this process, they determine if the offspring will end up with the dominant monster trait, or the recessive monster trait. Once all traits have been determined, the participants draw their monsters and compare.

This lesson from betterlesson.com has many opportunities for adaptation depending on your students’ needs. I recently used it during a professional development event for adult literacy practitioners. While the lesson was effective in reviewing Science topics such as dominant and recessive traits, we also extended it to include probabilities, percents, prediction, and other areas that help participants succeed on the HSE exam. As always, writing can be included as well by having the participants summarize the lesson with a ‘Monster Birth Announcement.’

If you are looking for an engaging, one hour lesson that will benefit participants as they prepare for HSE Science success, Mendel’s Monster Factory is well worth your time.